ABSTRACT
Boys and girls develop sexual health in similar and different ways. It is difficult to accurately understand these developmental features because of the limited amount of research on the sexuality of children, but scientific data do offer perspective. The majority of parents do not say anything directly to their sons about sexuality. While this is unfortunate, it is very understandable, because most parents themselves did not receive any education from their own parents. Virginity pledges misguide young people and set them up to fail with unrealistic, simplistic notions that dishonor adolescent males and females who are trying to integrate healthy, realistic sexuality into their young lives. Childhood sexuality involves learning about one's body other kids' bodies, sensual feelings of touch, as well as guidance from adults about what is appropriate. Because so much of childhood sexual behavior is normal exploration, an important dimension of learning sexual health as a boy is the reaction of important adults to the sex behavior.
